Human Services

Overview

The Human Services (HSERV) program prepares students for employment in a broad range of social service agencies. Typical job titles include substance use disorder treatment professionals, residential treatment workers, case managers, out-reach and community workers. The program has a core of courses that all students must complete for the Associate in Applied Science Degree, AAS with either a Generalist or Substance Use Disorder Counseling emphasis. By their second quarter, students determine which HSERV emphasis they will pursue. Students must enroll in HSERV 198 - Pre-Practicum Seminar which prepares students for practicum (work-based experience) in an agency. After a student’s first quarter, the HSERV full-time faculty will serve as the students’ advisors.

The Human Services program includes classroom training in interpersonal communications, counseling, ethics, case management, substance abuse treatment and crisis intervention. An agency-based practicum experience is also required. Many courses are offered sequentially and students are expected to take courses in sequence.

Students interested in transferring to a four-year college should see a counselor or their Human Services advisor for assistance in program planning. Please note this is a Professional/Technical program and does not offer a standard transfer degree. For information on articulation agreements with university programs, see the Associate in Applied Science degree information below. Contact for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) faculty is to be announded. Contact the Generalist department chair, Claudia Avendano-Ibarra, at 360.416.7749. Returning students who have already earned college degrees and who are interested in taking coursework necessary to become a SUD professional, who to contact is to be announded.

Learning Outcomes:

General Education Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Human Services program will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and treatment of addiction and psychopathology.
Effectively work with consumers using ethical practice.
Demonstrate capability in case management tasks.

Program Admissions:

Please apply at Enrollment Services . Students may enter the program at the beginning of any quarter, and advanced standing may be requested for some courses. All students entering the Human Services program must take the college placement test. This can be arranged by contacting Enrollment Services.

Specialized Program Information:

Work-Based Learning

Students will integrate their classroom learning with work-based learning by completing a total of 12 credits (360 work hours) of supervised practicum work. Students enrolled in Practicum (HSERV 199 ) must enroll concurrently in the Practicum Seminar (HSERV 200 ). Each practicum requires permission of the Department Chairs. Credits and grades in HSERV 199 are based on job hours worked, work experience, a site visit, completion of learning objectives, meeting time lines for all paperwork, satisfactory completion of a work journal, and quality of all grading criteria.

Students enrolling in Practicum (HSERV 199 ) may be required by agencies to apply for registration with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) as counselor trainees. Such registration includes filling out a disclosure statement and may include a criminal background check. Students may submit this application while enrolled in HSERV 198 . Passing HSERV 101 and HSERV 198 with grades of C or better is a prerequisite for enrollment in Practicum.

Degree and Certificate Options:

An Associate in Applied Science Degree, AAS is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 90 credits of specified technical and related education coursework above 100-level with both an overall 2.0 grade point average and a 2.0 grade point average in the technical major. (“Technical major” means all HSERV courses; not the general education courses). The Human Services-Generalist Emphasis, AAS currently requires completion of 93 credits, and the Human Services-SUD Emphasis, AAS requires completion of 99 credits. For those students who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s degree after completion of an AAS degree, the Human Services program has transfer agreements with Fairhaven College and Trinity Western University in Bellingham, and Evergreen State College in Olympia.

Programs

Associate Degrees: Workforce

Intended to give students the skills needed to move directly into employment.

Certificates

Certificates are intended to provide students with specialized training and skills.

Human Services, Substance Use Disorder Counseling Certificate